Pull toy



Oct. 26, 1965 w. RIVA 3,213,844

PULL TOY Filed June 18, 1962 w 32 201g /4 g INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,213,844 PULL TOY William Riva, 116 E. 95th St, New York 28, N.Y.

Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,322 7 Claims. (Cl. 12429) The present invention relates to toys, and more particularly to the class of toys known as pull toys, or motion toys, which are commonly mounted on wheels and provided with a string or cord whereby they may be drawn over the floor surface by a chi-1d. Usually the toy simulates some character or object, and means is provided whereby the movement of the toy is accompanied by action, or a noise, or both, similar to the action or sound made by the character or object simulated by the toy.

Some toys in the category referred to are quite simple simulations of animals, persons, or ordinary objects and, therefore, do not possess a degree of fascination which will make them an attractive and lasting plaything. Other such toys display a quality of ingeniousness and creativeness which sets them apart from the mere simulations of commonplace things, and it is to this latter class that the present invention belongs.

Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is the provision of a novel pull toy which possesses a deep fascination, making it inherently a readily marketable item and an attractive plaything of which a child will not quickly tire and discard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy of the aforesaid character which possesses the high degree of novelty that results in the development of a simple means for accomplishing the desired result, and simplicity is a Watchword in the crowded art to which the present invention relates.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide inexpensively a rugged toy structur capable of withstanding the abusive treatment to which playthings are innocently subjected by infants and young children.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an operating mechanism for toys of the type referred to which is characterized by the fact that basically it is designed to render it adaptable for use with a plurality of toys which otherwise, i.e., in appearance, function and other characteristics of the objects which they simulate, have little or nothing obviously in common with one another.

It is a feature of the present invention that the device thereof is a rugged structure comprising few parts; and all moving parts thereof are concealed to an extent whereby they are substantially protected from either accidental damage or innocently abusive destruction.

Other objects and features of the present invention could be set forth but it is believed that they will be obvious to persons skilled in the art from a study of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention which follows.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form and obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised Within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, showing the interior structure of the device; and

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the toy 10 simulates a cannon and comprises a mount 11 formed with a base member 12, the mount and base comprising a frame member. As shown, the mount 11 is a hollow block of 3,213,844 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 wood, although it may be formed of any suitable material such as a molded plastic. Formed integrally with the mount 11 is a barrel 13 extending upwardly therefrom at an angle whereby the entire unit resembles a primitive form of heavy ordnance.

The mount 11 is suitably drilled or otherwise formed with apertures which provide bearing surfaces for an axle shaft 14 rotably mounted therein and extending outwardly beyond the opposite sides of the mount. A wheel 15 is fixedly mounted on each extended end of the axle shaft 14, whereby rotation of the wheels effects a rotation of the axle shaft 14. In order to provide spacing between the wheels 15 and mount 11 and eliminate friction, a washer 16 is arranged on the axle shaft 14 between the mount and each of the wheels; and each wheel 15 is secured on the axle shaft 14 by a nut 17 or other fastening means attached to the end of the shaft 14.

The mount 11 is hollow so as to provide a space 18 in which operating mechanism may be located, the mechanism being provided for operation to discharge a missle in simulation of the firing of the cannon. To this end, a second shaft 20 is jou'rnaled in opposite sides of the mount 11 to extend through the space 18 and has fixed thereto a gear wheel 21. Also fixed to the shaft 20 is a winding drum 22 whose function will be described hereinafter. A segmented gear 23 is fixedly mounted on the axle shaft 14 and, as best shown in FIG. 1, comprises a toothed segment 24, the circumferential arc of which is greater than When the gear 23 is rotated, the teeth 24 mesh with teeth 27 on the gear wheel 21 during a portion only of each complete rotation of the gear 23.

It is pointed out that if desired the gear 23 could comprise a circular body portion 25, as shown by dotted lines 26, formed without teeth throughout a portion of its :circumference and therefore in that area it would not effect engagement with the teeth on the gear wheel 21. Moreover, the body 25 could b a continuous disc formed with a plurality of sets of gear teeth interrupted at spaced intervals around the periphery of the body 25. The use of such different forms of segmented gears are merely a mat ter of choice, or else they are dictated by certain factors in each particular instance.

A length of cord 30 or other suitable flexible connector is secured at one end to the winding drum 22, is threaded through the barrel 13 and extends beyond the muzzle 31 thereof with its opposite end fastened to a missile 32 which, as shown, is in the form of a sphere or ball. A compression spring 33 is disposed within the barrel 13 with its inner end 34 seating on a shoulder 35 formed by making bore 36 of the barrel 13 of larger diameter than passage 37 extending between the bore and the space 18 in the mount 11. The inner end of the spring 33 is secured at the breach end of the barrel 13 in any suitable manner but preferably by being threaded into a pitched groove 38 formed in the mount 11.

In order that the pull toy may be moved, as by a child pulling it across a floor, there is provided therefor an eyelet 40 fastened to the base 12 and a cord '41 fastened at one end to the eyelet and having a hand grip 42 tied to its opposite end. It is pointed out that the muzzle 31 of the barrel 13 is dished out to form a concavity 45, which is provided to facilitate the guidance to and entry of the missile 32 into the barrel 13.

In operation, assuming that the segmented gear 23 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, movement of the device in a linear direction by pulling on the cord 41 will cause the wheels 15 to turn counterclockwise and, hence, rotate the segmented gear 23 in the same direction. Such rotation will carry the teeth 24 of the segmented gear 23 out of mesh with the teeth 27 of the gear wheel 21, thus breaking engagement between the segmented gear, which is the driving means, and leaving the gear wheel 21 and winding drum 22 free to rotate. When the gear wheel 21 is thus freed the compression spring 33 exercises itself to relax and expand toward the muzzle of the barrel 13, as shown by the dotted lines of FIG. 1. In so doing it carries with it the missile 32 and forceably projects the missile out of the bore 36 and beyond the muzzle 31, simulating the firing of the cannon, until the flight of the missile is checked by the cord 30.

Continued linear movement of the device causes the segmented gear 23 to rotate idly counterclockwise until the leading tooth, indicated by the numeral 50 engages the teeth 27 of the gear wheel 21, whereupon the gear wheel 21 is rotated in a clockwise direction for so long a time as the teeth 24 and 27 remain in mesh. This rotation of the gear wheel 21 effects a corresponding rotation of the shaft 20 and with it' the winding drum 22 which is fixed thereo. The turning of the winding drum 22 reels in the cord 30, pulling the missile 32 with it into the bore 36 wherein it engages the outer end of the compression spring 33 (dotted lines) and as it continues to be drawn further into the bore 36 it compresses the spring 33, reaching full compression when the gear wheel 21 and the segmented gear 23 are in the position substantially as shown in FIG. 1. Then, as already stated, continued rotation of the segmented gear 23 carries it out of mesh with the gear wheel 21 and frees the mechanism for projecting the missile 32 out of the barrel 13.

As already stated, the invention has been shown merely by way of example in preferred form and obviously many variations and modifications thereof may be made which will still be comprised within its spirit. Means other than a compression spring may be employed. For example, a hammer element could be actuated by mechanism such as a gear wheel periodically rotated by a segment gear, with operative connections to cause the hammer element to strike the object a sudden blow. Other variations will occur to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the appended claims are not to be limited in their interpretation except insofar as they are expressly limited by recitations therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a toy device for forcefully projecting an object therefrom, the combination of a frame member, guide means from which the object is projected supported by the frame member, an object to be projected disposed in said guide means, elastic means disposed in said guide means and adapted to engage the object to project it, and means operable to tension said elastic means, said tensioning means including a drive mechanism for operating the tensioning means to tension the elastic means and then suddenly release the tension and permit the elastic means to relax and thereby transmit its relaxing force to the object and cause the latter to be projected from the guide means, said drive mechanism including a gear wheel for cyclically operating said tensioning means and said drive mechanism further comprising a rotatable segment gear arranged to mesh with said gear wheel during a part of each rotational cycle of the segment gear to thereby effect tensioning of the elastic means, said segment gear passing out of mesh with said gear wheel during the remainder of the cycle permitting the tensioned elastic means to relax.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the frame member and guide means comprise a unit simulating a cannon mount and barrel.

3. A combination according to claim 2, and wherein the elastic means is a compression spring mounted in the barrel and fixed therein at its inner end, whereby it is free to compress and expand within the barrel and is retained therein.

4. In a pull toy cannon comprising a mobile cannon mount with a projecting barrel, mechanism for cyclically discharging a missile from the barrel including, in combination, a segmented gear journaled on said mount for rotation in response to linear movement of said mount, a gear wheel arranged to be intermittently rotated by said segmented gear, a winding drum connected with the gear Wheel for rotation thereby, a length of cord secured to and adapted to be wound on said drum, said cord extending from the drum through the bore of said barrel, a missile secured to the end of the cord extending beyond the muzzle of the barrel, and a compression spring fixed at its inner end to the breech portion of the barrel, the length of the cord, the diameter of the winding drum and the tooth ratio of the gear wheel and segmented gear being predetermined, whereby rotation of the segmented gear while in mesh with the gear wheel causes the drum to reel in the cord to draw the missile into the barrel a distance sufficient to compress the spring for subsequent release to expand and project the missile out of the barrel.

5. An action novelty toy comprising a frame, means for wheeling said frame over a supporting surface, guide means on said frame, a missile receivable in said guide means, and elastic means operative in said guide means to forceably eject the missile out therefrom, a flexible extensible means connected to said missile to limit the flight thereof and further means connected to said flexible extensible means and to effecting reeling of the missile into firing position within said guide means, and means for cyclically effecting the firing and reeling of said missile automatically in response to the linear movement of the frame over the supporting surface.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said last mentioned means includes a gear sector rotatably journaled to said Wheeling means and a gear wheel rotatably journaled in said frame in intermittent meshing relationship with said gear sector and operatively connected to said further means whereby movement of said frame over the supporting surface efllects intermittent meshing relationship of said gear sector with said gear wheel to effect alternate ejecting and reeling of said missile.

7. In a toy device for forcefully projecting a missile therefrom, in combination, a frame member simulating a cannon mount, a guide means simulating a cannon barrel from which the missile is projected, said guide means being supported by the frame member, a missile to be projected disposed in said barrel, a compression spring mounted in said barrel and fixed thereto at its inner end, means operable to compress said spring, said compressing means including a cord having one end attached to said missile and its other end extending through said barrel, a winding drum to which said other end of said cord is attached, a gear wheel mounted for rotation with said winding drum, drive mechanism for said gear wheel, said drive mechanism comprising a rotatable segment gear arranged to mesh with said gear wheel during a part of each rotation of said segment gear, said segment gear while in mesh causing said cord to be wound upon said winding drum to draw said missile into said barrel to engage and compress said spring, said winding drum being released when said segment gear passes out of mesh with said gear Wheel to thereby permit said spring to expand and propel said missile through said barrel and project it therefrom and rotatable means supporting said cannon mount on a surface, said means including a shaft carrying said segment gear.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,354,381 9/20 Dayon 46146 X 2,149,749 3/39 Savage 124-29 2,225,719 12/40 Shotton 124-16 X 2,747,328 5/56 Zalkind 46205 X 2,800,745 7/57 Zalkind 46205 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

LEONARD W. VARNER, Examiner. 

1. IN A TOY DEVICE FOR FORECEFULLY PROJECTING AN OBJECT THEREFROM, THE COMBINATION OF A FRAME MEMBER, GUIDE MEANS FROM WHICH THE OBJECT IS PROJECTED SUPPORTED BY THE FRAME MEMBER, AN OBJECT TO BE PROJECTED DISPOSED IN SAID GUIDE MEANS, ELASTIC MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID GUIDE MEANS AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE OBJECT TO PROJECT IT, AND MEANS OPERABLE TO TENSION SAID ELASTIC MEANS, SAID TENSIONING MEANS INCLUDING A DRIVE MECHANISM FOR OPEATING THE TENSIONING MEANS TO TENSION THE ELASTIC MEANS AND THEN SUDDENLY RELEASE THE TENSION AND PERMIT THE ELASTIC MEANS TO RELAX AND THEREBY TRANSMIT ITS RELAXING FORCE TO THE OBJECT AND CAUSE THE LATTER TO BE PROJECTED FROM THE GUIDE MEANS, SAID DRIVE MECHANISM INCLUDING A GEAR WHEEL FOR CYCLICALLY OPERATING SAID TENSIONING MEANS AND SAID DRIVE MECHANISM FURTHER COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SEGMENT GEAR ARRANGED TO MESH WITH SAID GEAR WHEEL DURING A PART OF EACH ROTATIONAL CYCLE OF THE SEGMENT GEAR TO THEREBY EFFECT TENSIONING OF THE ELASTIC MEANS, SAID SEGMENT GEAR PASSING OUT OF MESH WITH SAID GEAR WHEEL DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE CYCLE PERMITTING AND TENSIONED ELASTIC MEANS TO RELAX. 